Body positivity is a movement that encourages us to love ourselves and be proud of our bodies. It teaches us that no matter our size, height, or looks, we are worthy of respect and confidence. Personally, I strongly believe in loving myself because nobody else can do it better for me.
This prompt make me remember a sad story I once came across on TikTok. A woman, who had given birth to children, was constantly bullied online because of her big tummy. People mocked her videos and dropped hurtful comments. Eventually, she decided to do a tummy tuck surgery to “fix” her body, not because she wanted it but because of the pressure and body shaming she faced daily. Unfortunately, she lost her life during the process.
Who do we blame? The society that bullied her, or herself for giving in? Personally, I blame her the most. People will always talk, they will always criticize, but at the end of the day, it is our duty to love ourselves enough not to let those words destroy us.
This story made me know how much social media contributes to toxic body positivity. It is good to accept yourself, but when online voices force you to make unhealthy or dangerous decisions, then body positivity has been twisted into something harmful. The internet today is full of bullying, and too many people measure their worth by likes, comments, and followers instead of their true value.
For me, I have always chosen to stay positive about my body. People often tell me I am too slim, but I never take it as an insult. Instead, I proudly respond that I love being slim because it makes me look younger. That is how I maintain my peace and confidence. I love my body as God created it. If I had listened to every negative comment, I might have ended up hating myself, but instead, I chose self-love.
The danger of toxic body positivity is that it can blind us to reality. For example, someone who is sick may refuse to seek help, saying, “This is who I am.” Or someone may undergo painful and risky surgeries just to please society. In both cases, the idea of body positivity is no longer helping but harming.
So what is the solution? Balance. We must love our bodies, but at the same time, we must not let social media or public opinion dictate how we feel about ourselves. We must not allow “accepting ourselves” to become an excuse for ignoring health or making dangerous choices. And we should never use body positivity as a weapon to shame others for their own decisions, whether they choose to work out, lose weight, or enhance their looks.
Body positivity should lift us up, not destroy us. It should give us confidence, not push us into danger. Social media bullying will always exist, but the real strength lies in how we see ourselves. If we love and appreciate our physical appearance, no amount of negative words can break us. True body positivity means self-love, acceptance, and care not harm.